Hydraulic clutch and power transmission device



Dec. `5, 1939.

' v F. J. G. HENRY v2,182,049

HYDRAULICA CLUTCH AND POWER TRANSMISSION DEVICE Filed July i7, 193e 3 sheets-sheet 1 :Figi

DeC- 5 1939- F. J. G. HENRY 25182,()49

' HYDRAULIC CLUTCH AND POWER TRANSMISSION DEVICE Filed July 17, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet Figi v Figs i /m/enor Dec. 5, 1939. F; J. G. HENRY 2,182,049

HYDRAULIC' CLUTCH AND POWER TRNSMISSION DEVICE Filed .July 17, 193s "5 sheetssheet :s

Patented Dec.'l s, i939 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFlc-r.

HYDRAULIC CLUTCH AND POWER TRANSMISSION DEVICE Francois .loseph Georges Henry, Saint Loup.

Application July 17, 1936,. Serial No. 91,240 In France July 23, 1935 15 claim. (ci. 19a-ss) The object of the present invention is 'to Provide a device of this kind which is both strong l0 and elcient and which permits of Vobtaininga coupling which is effective while being smooth and gradual, and a quick-and full disconnection, whileensuring a regular drive during working.

Another object of thelpresent invention is to 15 provide a device of the kind above referredtov collected it in a suitable reservoir especially pro-v f vided for this purpose.

a0 'Another feature of the present invention consista in providing means, operative even when the clutch is working in the engaged position, for continuously renewing the liquid working in the apparatus, the liquid that is evacuated being as cooled down in any suitable manner, before being reintroduced into the apparatus.

Still another featureof the present invention consists m givingA the vanes of the centimgai pump wheel a shape such that the vanes of the 40 turbineV wheel are nearly wholly surrounded by the vanes of the pump wheel.

vOther characteristics of thepresent invention will result from the following detailed description of a specific embodiment thereof.

'45 A preferred embodiment of the present invention will be hereinafter described. with reference to the accompanying drawings, given merely by way of example, and in which:

Fig. -1 is a vertical sectional view of a, hydraulic 50 clutch and power transmissiondevice according tothe present invention:

Fig. 2 is a front`elevational sectional view of the same apparatus, on a' somewhat smaller .d lllgs. 3. 4, 5.an'd 6. are explanatory diagrammatical views illustrating interesting features of the working of the apparatus;

Fig. 3 illustrates the circulation ofthe liquid penetrating between the two wheels of the apparatus; I

Fig. 4 shows theclutchjdevice in the state of rest;

Fig. 5 shows the clutch device in the .engaged position;

Fig. 6 shows the clutchI device in lthe disenl" gaged position, the driving shaft being running.

In the various figures of the drawings. reference character I designates the external casing of the device, whichA also constitutes the reservoir containing the fliquid theintroduction of 15 which between the two wheels will cause one of these wheels to be driven by the other. This casing is provided, on the inside and on the outside, with cooling ns 2, 2'. An orifice provided with a plug yI6 permits of introducing the neces- 0 sary'amount of liquid into said casing.

-In the interior of the xed case is disposed lanother case, such 'inner case carrying the elements constituting the lpump wheel andthe turbine wheel of the system. i r l '25. 'I'he turning case is'in two parts tand I of. stamped metal flxedto each other in such mann'er as to constitute a kind-of ilat cylindrical drum, iixed through one of its faces, in its central portion, to a plate l carried by the driving shaft I0 O. The latter is iournalled in casing l through a ball bearing 1. In the interior of said case is disposed'a tlu'ning disc 9 mounted on a shaft Il vwhlchturns during the rolling on .balls I2 and. Il. 86 `In the interior of the case 3. I are disposed the'blades or vanes 8,'8' and on the disc 9 are similarly disposed the vanes I0, the combination of these 'several vanes constitute the system of the pump wheelv and the turbine wheel. The 40 vanes I, 8', as shown on the drawings. enclose ina half circle the side edges of the vanesil which are carried by the disc 9.

According to the present invention, the vanes I of the pump wheel are provided with surfaces 46 From experience it can be stated that there are also formed ytwo moving rings of liquid during the commencement of gliding between the pump and the turbine, which rings are represented by the circular arrows of Figure l. These rings of liquid are not at all guided and as a consequence they close up in a perfectly free and natural manner. It will thus be seen that the application is composed of a centrifugal pump consisting of a system of vanes 8, and, on the other hand, of a centripetal turbine consisting of the system of vanes I0, one being the distributor for the other and vice versa.

The uid travels rst in the cycle while being displaced from the interior towards the exterior along the vanes 8, 8'; it then enters along vanes II) of the turbine at the joint 8" I0 and leaves at the joint I|l' 8'.

Experience indeed taught that this arrangement permitsof obtaining a considerably improved drive of one of the wheels by the other.

Turbine 9 is keyed on a shaft I I can'ied by ball bearings I2, I3, one of which is carried by the pump wheel 3 4 and the other by casing I.

The rear part 4 of the drum which forms the pump wheel 3 4 Ais provided with a circular orifice I4 adapted to be stopped by a plate or disc I5, as it will be hereinafter explained. This orifice serves for infiow into the casing 3 4, of the liquid fed through a system I1 I9 including a kind of nozzle I1 and radial troughs I8 adapted to collect the liquid which, as it will be hereinafter explained, is driven to the upper part of casing I. On the other hand, the part 4 of drum 3 4 is provided, around its periphery, with a plurality 'l of orifices I9 through which the liquid escapes when the clutch is disengaged, Whereas other holes 20 are provided, according to the invention, in the portion 3 of the drum. The function of these last mentioned holes will be hereinafter explained.

The plate or disc I5 which serves to stop orice I4 is mounted on a sleeve 2| capable o f sliding along shaft II. 'I'he sliding movement of this sleeve is controlled by a pedal 22, through a sys- 'tem including a bell crank lever 23 and a. link 23a interposed between said lever and pedal 22. On the other hand, the sliding movement of sleeve 2| produces a pivoting movement of a plurality of levers 24 pivoted at 25 to brackets carried by portion 4 of drum 3-4. These levers are fitted, at their outerl ends, with valve elements 26 -adapted to stop orices I9. Small masses 21 At the same time, as drum 3 4 is partlyim-l carried by levers 24 tend, when the apparatus is rotating, to pivot said levers under the effect of the centrifugal force, in such manner as to apply valve elements 25 against holes I9.

I will now explain the operation of the device above described. l Y

l In the state of rest', the apparatus is filled with liquid, for instance oil, up to the level indicated by Fig. 4. Of course, this liquid is also present in the lower part of vdrum 3 4. If, now, the engine is started, with, the device in the dis engaged position, as shown by Fig. 6, the liquid that was present in drum 34driven by, the vanes 3 of the pump wheel, is driven out, under the action of theY centrifugal force, to the outside of drum 3 4'through orices I9, which are not AStopped by valves 26.

mersed in the liquid present in thelower part of casing I, a sheet of said'liquid is driven along by said drum, by adhesion to the peripheral outer surface thereof. This sheet of liquid is then the trough system I1-I8 is diagrammatically illustrated by the arrows of Fig. 3. But as plate I5 fully stops orice I4, this liquid cannot enter into drum 3 4. As there exists a clearance between the lower edge of trough I1 and the lateral face of drumJ 3 4, the liquid fed to said trough I1 flows back to the lower par-t of casing I, the ow of the liquid being indicated by the arrows of Fig. 6.

If, now, the clutch pedal 22 is released, which causes sleeve 2| to slide along shaft II, disc I5 now opens orifice I4. At the same time, levers 24 are released and they swing in the clockwise direction under the effect of the centrifugal force acting on small masses 21. Valve elements 26 now stop orifices I9. The liquid present in gutter-shaped system I1-I8 enters drum 3 4 andcannotescape through orifices I9, which are now closed. Under the effect of the centrifugal force, this liquid is distributed in the form of an peripheral outer surface of drum 3 4 is,sti11 driving along liquid from the lower part of casing I so as to feed said liquid to the trough system I1-I8, in the manner above described, fresh liquid continuously enters drum 3 4 through orice I4, while the overflow keepsv flowing out through orifices 20 and returns to the lower part of casing I. f

Now, owing in particular to the provision of cooling fins 2, 2' on the inside and the outside of said casing, the liquid presentin the lower part of said casingand therefore the liquid fed to gutter-shaped system I1`I8 and through said system to the inside of drum 3 4,'is relatively cold liquid. When entering the drum, this cold liquid, which is denser, tends to move toward the periphery of saidrdrum and therefore it drives out the liquid already lheated up between the wv wheel, so that, gradually. the vanes of said turbine wheel are caused to turnwith an angular velocity substantially equal to that of vanes 3.

'I'his operation of the device is obtained in a particularly efiicient manner, according to the present invention, owing in particular to the provision of the "surfaces 8' of-vanes 8. i When it is desired to disengage the clutch, y

it suiilces to depress p edal 22, which has 4for its effect on the one hand to close the liquid inlet orifice I4, and on the other hand to open orificesY 20. Therefore no liquid now enters -the drum rapidly through' orices 1 I9. no liquid re-,

' through orifice," andthe drum empties very ina-ins between the two turbines, vanes AIl cease Ik,

to be driven by vanes l. 'I'he clutch is now-disengaged.

f course, the example above described can be modied withoutdeparting from the principle of the invention. v

0n the other hand, the invention is applicable to any kind of hydraulic clutch, whatevervbe the v shape and the arrangement of the elements, adapted to cooperate together, between which the drive is transmitted through the liquid.

In particular, the shape of the vanes might be different, but preferably the vanes of the, centrifugal pump wheelshould be provided with surfaces projecting between the vanes of the turbinewheel .and the axis of said last mentioned wheel in a manner analogous to that illustrated by the drawings, so as to improve the drive.

Concerning the clutch device considered as a whole, it can be used for the transmission of power as well in the case o f stationary machines asin that of vehicles of any kind, such as automobiles and the like. When applied to an auto- .mobile vehicle, the device according to the present invention may, advantageously, be connected 35 with anY automatic' disengagement device.

As for the device for controlling the engagement and the disengagement -of the clutch, it may, of course, be of any kind whatever.

In a general manner, while I have, in the above description, disclosed what I deem to be a practical and eflicient embodiment ofthe present invention, it should bel well understood that I do `not wish to be limited thereto as there might be changes lmade in the arrangement, disposition 3 5 land form of the parts without departing from the .principle of the present invention-as comprehend'edl within vthe scope' of the accompanying claims.

What I claim is:

4o l1. A nydrauifc clutch and power transmission' ldevice of the type described, which comprises, incombination, a driving shaft, a driven shaft, a

casing containing a liquid, apump wheel in the 55 in'combination, a driving shaft,a driven shaft,v

`a casing containing a liquid, a'pump wheel in the form of a closed'drum provided with an orifice in its central part, mounted vin said casing and coupled with said driving shaft, a turbine wheel 60 journalied in said drum and coupled with said driven shaft, gutter shaped means carried by said ca'aing,'fordirecting the liquid present in the annular space between said. drum and said casing and driven by the louter surface of said cas- 85 ing toward said orifice, said drur'n being provided with a plurality of -holes close -to the periphery thereof, valve elementsv pivoted to said casing and adapted to close said holes under the. effect ofthe centrifugal force, a plate slidable along o the axis'of saiddrum capable of closing said orifice, means interconnecting said plate and saidv valve elements for preventing the closing of said valve elements when said plate is in theelosed A' position, and means for operating said plate 1|. '3. A hydraulic clutch and power transmission system of the type described, which comprises, in combination, a driving shaft, a driven shaft, a casing containing a liquid, a pump wheel in the form of a closed drum provided with an orifice in its axial part, mounted in said casing and coupled 5 with said driving shaft, a turbine Wheel journalled in said drum'A and coupledwith said driven shaft, gutter-shaped means, carried by-said casing, for directing the liquid present in the annular space between said drum and said casing and l0` driven by the outer surface of said drum toward" l'said orifice, said drum being provided with a plurality of holesclose to the periphery thereof, valve elements pivoted to said casing and adapted to close said holes under the eiect of the cen- 15 trifugal force, a plate slidable along the axis of said drum capable of closing said orifice, means interconnecting said plate and said valve elements for preventing the closing of said valve elements as long as said lplate is in the closed Aposi- 20 tion, means for controlling the position of said plate, means carried by said casing for cooling the liquid' present therein, said drum being provided with holes provided in the part thereof intermediate between its -periphery and its axial -25 'thereof'. a pump Wheel in the form of a closed drum mounted in said casing .and coupled Awith said driving shaft, a turbine wheel journalled in said drum and coupled with said driven shaft, said drum being provided with an orifice in the central face of one. lateral face thereof, guttershaped means carried by said casing for directing the liquid projected by the periphery of said dmm and running 'down along the inner wall of said 40 casing toward said orifice, a plate movable axially for closing at will said orifice, said drum being provided with holes located close to the periphery thereof, and means operative by said closure -plate and the centrifugal forceY for closing said holes whensaid plate is in the open positioniand opening said holeswhen said plate is in the closed position, said gutter shaped means being mounted with' acertain clearance between-the ,lower end thereofV and said drum, whereby the w liquid fed to said gutter-shaped means is allowed to return to -the bottom of said casing when said closure plate is in the closed position.

5. A hydraulic clutch and power transmissionA deviceof the type described, which comprises, in I closure platey movable axially opposite said orifice so as to permit of closing it, gutter-shaped means carried by saidcasing for directing theliquid projected'by the periphery of said drum and 70 running down along the inner periphery of said casing 'toward said orifice, ,said gutter-shaped means being mounted with a certain clearance between the lower end thereof and said drum,

whereby the liquid fedi-to saidv gutter-shapedl 15 'means is allowed to return to the bottom of said' casing when said closure plate is inthe closed position, and means, responsive to the action'of the centrifugal force, carried by said drum and operatively connected withsaid closure plate, for closing the first mentioned holes when said plate is in the 'open position and openingV said center valve and closing the periphery valvesv and vice-versa.

11. A hydraulic clutch and power transmission device which comprises, in combination, a. rotatable casing, partially filled with a liquid and in 5 said casing a rotatable disc, these two elements carrying interacting vanes, whichv form a pump first mentioned holes when said plate is in the wheel and a turbine wheel, the blades lof said closed position.

6. A hydraulic clutch and power transmission ldevice which comprises in combination, a rotatable casing, partially fllled with a liquid and in said casing a rotatable disc, these two elements carrying interacting vanes which form 'a pump wheel and a turbine wheel, means for causing the liquid to flow continuously and freely in said rotatable casing and means for adjusting the level of the liquid, in said rotatable casing below r a predetermined height.

carrying interacting vanes which form a pump l wheel and a turbine wheel, a stationary casing .containing same liquid, means for causing the liquid to flow continuously in said rotatable cassaid casing, for causing the liquid in said sta-- tionary casing to flow continuously and freely into said rotatable casing. v

il. A hydraulic clutch and power transmission device which comprises in combination, a rotatable casing, partially filled withv a liquidl and in said casing' a rotatable disc, these two elements carrying interacting vanes which form a pump wheel and a turbine wheel, a stationary casing containing said liquid, means for causing the liquid to flow continuously in said rotatable casing, said means consisting in the rotatable casing itself of which the lower part is immerged into the liquid of the stationary casing for projecting the liquid 4on the upper inner part of said stationary casing, and, in combination with saidY stationary casing a drain for collecting andy conveying the streaming liquid, Within the rotatable casing.

19. A hydraulic clutch and power transmission device which comprises in combination, a rotat able casing, partially filled with a liquid and 'in said casing-a rotatable disc, these two elements carrying interacting vanes which form a lpump wheel anda turbine wheel, means for causing the liquid to flow continuously andfreely in said rotatable.casing, andat least on over-ow outlet for adjusting below a predetermined-height the liquidflowing continuously and freely in'y said rotatable casing. 7

l0. A hydraulic clutch and power transmission device which comprises in combination, a rotatable casing, partially lled with a liquid and in said casing a rotatable disc, these two elements carrying interacting vanes which form a pump wheel and a turbine wheel, means for causing the liquid to flow continuously and freely in said r.

12. A hydraulic clutch and power transmission l device which comprises in combination, a rotatable casing, partially filled with a liquid and in said casing a rotatable disc, these two elements carrying interacting vanes which form a pump wheel-and a turbine wheel, a part at least of the joints between the blades of the pump wheel and the turbine wheel being in a transversel direction to the plane 'of said wheels, means for causing the liquid to flow continuously and freely in said rotatable casing and means for adjusting the level of the liquid, in said rotatable casing below a predetermined height.

13. A hydraulic clutch and power system transmission device which comprises in combination,

-a rotatable casing, partially filled with a liquid and in'said casing a rotatable` disc, these two elements carrying interacting vanes which form a pump wheel and a turbine wheel, means for causing the liquid to flow continuously and freely in said rotatable casing and a combination of valves of which the one, for the feeding, is near the center and the other for the discharge near the periphery, said` valves being interconnected by controlling means for simultaneously opening the center valve and closing the periphery 40 valves and' vice-versa, the discharge valves of the periphery being each mounted on a lever having a mass for applyingl same on their seat under the action of centrifugal stresses.

14. A hydraulic clutch and power transmission 15.l A hydraulic clutch and power transmission device of the type described, which comprisesin combination, a driving shaft, a driven shaft, a 30 casing containing a liquid, a pump wheel in the form of a closed drum mounted in said casing and lcoupled with said driving shaft, a turbine wheel vjournalled in said drum and coupled with said driven shaft, said pump wheel carrying vanes 35 having projections engaging between the vanes of the turbine wheel and the axis thereof so as to tatable 'casing and 'a combination of valves of .-ensurean improved drive of the two wheels by which one. for the feeding, is -near the center and the other, for the discharge. near the periphery, said valves being interconnected by controlling means for simultaneously opening the eachother, and means adapted to cooperate with -the outer surfaceof said -drum for causing the 70 liquid in said casing to ilow'into said drum.

FRANCOIS JOSEPH GEORGES HENRY. 

